Weighted handheld electronic device

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a weighted hand held electronic device that is ergonomically shaped to fit one&#39;s hand. The device has the ability to control another device such as a television using built in remote control capabilities and the ability to control an auxiliary device such as a phone, music player, or other device that can be attached to this handheld device. The handheld device makes walking, running, or other forms of exercising easier and more productive while watching television because of the device&#39;s weight, convenience and functionality.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

Physical exercise is very important and helpful to people. It improveshealth and the exerciser's mood and it burns fat, builds muscle, helpsone's cardiac system, and it has many more advantages. There are manytypes of exercise that one can do such as walking, running, swimming,stair climbing, using an elliptical machine, lifting weights, resistanceexercising, push-ups, pull ups, squats, yoga, and many others involvingdifferent types of motion and resistance. Leg exercises, such aswalking, running, elliptical, stair climbing and others primarily helpimprove lower body strength and cardio functions, When one adds in upperbody exercises such as lifting weights, it is more efficient inimproving health because the cardiac work out increases and the userexercises additional sections of the body. Lifting weights while doinglower body exercise is also time efficient as it exercises multiplesections of the body in the time it would otherwise take to exercisefewer sections. There are many types of equipment and weights used toincrease resistance to the exerciser. One type of weight is a dumbbell.

Dumbbells are weights used for exercising. They may be used for manytypes of exercise, most of which involve lifting them or holding them.They may also be used when doing other exercises like walking orrunning. Dumbbells are typically shaped like a capital I and areavailable in different weights.

While exercising, one can listen to music, audio books and other sourcesor watch television or other visuals to keep entertained. This can besignificant in allowing the individual to exercise longer than otherwiseand therefore achieve greater results from their exercise.

Television remote control devices control a distribution source, such asa television or cable box, and are used to change the channel, volume,or other parameters on the television or other distribution source. Sucha device does so by, for example sending a signal wirelessly to thetelevision, which the television receives and does the command it isbeing told to do by the remote control.

There are problems that can be faced while using typical remote controlswhile an individual is exercising. Some problems which may be faced are;small buttons, buttons that are hard to press while in motion, the needto look at the remote control instead of focusing on exercise orentertainment, a multitude of buttons not needed while exercising, whereto place or hold the remote control, sweat getting onto or into theremote control which makes the remote control wet, slippery, unsanitary,and could cause malfunctions, and other problems are possible. Only someprimary function buttons such as volume, channel, and power are neededwhile exercising. Typical remote controls are not ergonomic which makesremote controls hard to hold and the buttons hard to locate and presswhen in motion. Typical remote controls are not durable enough tosurvive a drop to a hard and/or moving exercise surface which is morelikely to happen with a remote control that is not ergonomicallydesigned, wet with sweat, and/or being held by an individual in motion.Moreover, typical remote controls are very light. Holding such a devicein one's hand while exercising does not substantially add to one'sexercise.

If an individual is exercising with dumbbells or other weights in one orboth hands, and the person exercising wants to change some parameter onthe television or other device, the person must put down the weights andpick up the television remote to affect the desired change. This may beeither not convenient or not possible while an individual in exercising.

People running, walking and other exercising outdoors carry many typesof devices like personal music players, mobile phones, geolocatordevices, pedometers, other activity monitoring devices, heart monitors,and others. Some examples of these devices are Iphones, android phones,Ipods, GPS, MP3 players, Zoons, and others. These devices are used inorder to make the physical activity more enjoyable, more effective,productive, and/or more convenient.

Currently people use a variety of means to hold these devices such asarmbands, waist belts, pockets, wrist bands, clips, and others. There isa potential problem faced with each of these methods. If the device isnot hand held and/or not of sufficient weight, there will be no exercisebenefit added. If the devices are not ergonomic, they can be hard tooperate while exercising. For example, if the user much reach for abutton while running, the user may find it difficult to position afinger on the button. If the device is in a pocket, clipped to theperson's clothing, or within an arm band, accessing the device may bedifficult. These are just some examples of problems that one couldencounter.

Using a complicated, inconvenient, non-ergonomic, electronic devicewhile exercising can also be dangerous to the individual as it increasesthe risk of an accident while exercising. Using touch screen typedevices can be especially complicated to use during physical activity asthe user must often power or wake up the device, input a pass code,fingerprint scan, select one or more icons or other menu items, and theninput the desired command.

There is an unmet need for a remote control device compatible withexercise activities and an unmet need for a weighted remote control toenhance the user's level of exercise during a workout.

Some attempts have been made to combine the attributes of the presentinvention, although unsuccessfully. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,508describes an adjustable hand-held exercise weight with pulse detectionand remote control capabilities. Some disadvantages are that it can onlyfit one type of remote control that is already built in the device andit cannot hold other electronic devices. Also, the buttons are not inthe most easily accessible location on the device and the shape does notergonomically fit the shape of the hand.

Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,070 describes a weighted remote control. Thedisadvantage of this device is that the user must reach his/her fingersto reach the buttons near the top of the device and it does notergonomically fit the shape of the hand. Also. this device does not havea means of attaching an auxiliary device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts the weighted device of the present invention in the formof a dumbbell shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to meeting the unmet need of makingremote control devices compatible with and beneficial for physicalactivity such as exercise. The weighted, handheld electronic device(“weighted control device”) can be in the shape of a dumbbell, or becylindrical, grooved, smooth, or any other shape such that it can beeasily hand held while exercising. The exterior can be made out ofrubber, plastic, vinyl, metal and/or other materials. In the preferredembodiment, the device is shaped like a dumbbell with finger grooves andits exterior surface is formed of a rubberized and spongy material so asto provide the benefits of ease of holding, especially as the handbecomes moist from exercise, and absorbency.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the weighted handheld electronic device 1. Theweighted handheld electronic device 1 preferably has five ergonomicallyshaped ridges 5 that each has one button 3 inside. The buttons 3 controla secondary electronic device. A battery 2 that can also be the powersource to the auxiliary device that is attached to the attachment site 4and the buttons 3. Additional weight may be added consequential tomaterial like sand or water or other solids or liquids that will bepoured through the compartment-filling cap 6 into a compartment 7.

The device can have an adapter to receive/hold an auxiliary device suchas a television remote control, mp3 player, phone, or others: and/or thedevice can have its own built-in buttons, switches, knobs or othercontrol features which can be used to send a signal to another device.In the present invention, these built in buttons, switches, knobs, orother control features can be positioned in ridges made for fingers thatwould be ergonomically shaped to fit ones hand and fingers

If these control features are built in to the weighted control device,there would not need to be as many buttons as on a standard remotecontrol, which would make this ergonomic and weighted remote controldevice simpler and easier to use.

The signaling capability on the weighted remote control device cancontrol functions on either a television (or cable box, among others)remote device or on an auxiliary device that is adapted to the weightedremote control device. There may be a compartment, slot, adapter orother element where one may connect or mate with a phone or other deviceto the weighted remote control and still use the device while attached.In addition or in the alternative, the signaling capability can controlan electronic device housed within the weighted handheld device and/orconnected to the weighted handheld device. That is, any or all of thebuttons may control devices internally or externally, and differentbuttons can control different devices or even different functions ofdifferent devices.

The signaling capability may be enhanced by being two way. For example,data can be delivered to the device of the present invention withindication of receipt, such as by audible indicator. The audible (orother) indicator may be included in the device itself or in an auxiliaryelement mated with the device.

The weighted remote control can be any weight above that of aconventional remote control device. The device would preferably be 1 to10 pounds in weight, more preferably 2 to 5 pounds, as is common forindividuals to hold during exercise. The specific weight depends on theability and objectives of the individual user. The device could get mostof its weight from an internal solid or liquid. For example, the devicecould include an internal compartment which could be filled with eithersand, water, gel, or a material of any type that would make the deviceheavier. The device could get its weight from being filled up with thosematerials, in which case, it could also be emptied and be less heavy,which would make it easier for travel, or it could have permanentinternal weight. The device would be good for travel, good forcustomizing to a desired weight if being filled up, and if it is filledwith water or another liquid, it could be a good source of water orother liquid to drink for hydration or to cool one's self off with Theweight may also be consequential to an internal large battery that canbe used for additional power to the remote and/or auxiliary devices. Thedevice could have integrated electronics or controls. The device canhave a compartment, to which an auxiliary electronic device may beattached. The device could have a mating connector for portable mediaplayers, GPS devices, phones, transmitters of any type, or anythingelse. The buttons on the remote are large and easily engageable. Thebuttons could be, but may not be limited to; the volume up and downbuttons, the channel up and down buttons, and the power button.

A weighted remote control device according to the present inventioncould have built in audio speakers to add weight to the remote controlas well as provide audio to the user that is transmitted from an adaptedelectronic device such as an mp3 device, phone, GPS device, or others.

The accompanying figure illustrates a preferred embodiment of a weightedhandheld electronic device and respective constituent parts, however,other types and styles are possible, and the drawing is not intended tobe limiting in that regard. Thus, although the description above and theaccompanying drawing contains much specificity, the details providedshould not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiment butmerely as providing illustrations of some of the presently preferredembodiment. The drawings and the description are not to be taken asrestrictive on the scope of the embodiment and are understood as broadand general teachings in accordance with the present invention. Whilethe present embodiment of the invention has been described usingspecific terms, such description is for present illustrative purposesonly, and it is to be understood that modifications and variations tosuch embodiment, including but not limited to the substitutions ofequivalent features, materials, or parts, and the reversal of variousfeatures thereof, may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the preferred embodiment, the weighted control device of the presentinvention is ergonomically shaped to compliment the human hand andincludes a gripper portion. The exterior is formed of plastic or rubber.The device includes ergonomically placed buttons. The weight is or maybe adjustable based on the actual composition of the device. The weightlargely is consequential to an internal rechargeable battery that canpower the handheld device as well as any connected electronic device.The weight may also be consequential to fixed materials within thedevice for the purpose of adding weight to the device. The weight mayalso be consequential to addition of other materials such as solids orliquids that can be added to the device on a temporary basis.

The weighted control device of the present invention includes aconnection for another electronic device that can attach to it eitherdirectly or via an adapter. A compartment or other means of connectionfor an auxiliary electronic device may be included or attached to thehandheld device. The auxiliary electronic device may be able to operateoff of the battery in the weighted control device, and the auxiliaryelectronic device may be able to charge its own internal battery fromthe battery in the handheld electronic device. One or more buttons onthe handheld electronic device are placed at or around the fingertips ofwhen the device is gripped. Additional weight can be added from water oranother liquid or solid material that can temporarily or permanently behoused in an internal compartment. That compartment can be opened uplike a canteen and include a spout to allow the user to drink liquid forhydration while exercising. The weighted control device is waterproof orwater resistant so that the water will not affect the device or anattached auxiliary device. The buttons on the device may control volumeup and down, channel up and down, and power on and off. The buttons canoperate as a remote control for another device such as a video or audiodevice or provide other controls. The buttons can also operate anauxiliary device that is attached or connected to the handheld device,For example, the buttons could control the volume up and down, and nextand previous song of a music-playing device when attached to thehandheld device. The buttons can also control the volume of a phone thatis attached to the handheld device.

1. A grippable dumbbell configured for storing flowable solid or liquidand for a user to drink from and which remotely controls at least oneelectronic appliance comprising: an embedded communication device forwirelessly communicating with a remote electronic appliance; a centralhandle comprising a gripper, said gripper further comprising a pluralityof finger grooves distributed and configured for gripping by a userusing a thumb and at least two other fingers with each of said groovesincluding an embedded controller configured to engage said embeddedcommunication device; a storage compartment; and a drinking spoutconfigured to be engagable with said storage compartment; wherein saiddumbbell is configured for use for upper body strengthening whileexercising; each said embedded controller is configured to communicatewith and deliver a distinct signal to said electronic appliance forcontrolling a particular function of said electronic appliance; and eachsaid embedded controller is engagable by said user without repositioninga finger.
 2. The dumbbell of claim 1, wherein said dumbbell is usablewhile said user is active in lower body exercise. 3-5. (canceled)
 6. Thedumbbell of claim 1, wherein said dumbbell weighs between 2 and 5pounds.
 7. The dumbbell of claim 1, wherein said embedded communicationdevice is usable to control a television.
 8. The dumbbell of claim 1,wherein said embedded communication device is usable to control a cablebox.
 9. The dumbbell of claim 1, wherein said embedded communicationdevice is usable to control a telephone.
 10. The dumbbell of claim 1,wherein said embedded communication device is usable to control acomputer.
 11. The dumbbell of claim 1, further including a rechargeablebattery.
 12. The dumbbell of claim 1, wherein said dumbbell is adaptableto charge a mated additional electronic device.
 13. The dumbbell ofclaim 12, wherein said additional electronic device is selected from thegroup consisting of the set of a phone, a music storage, a playerdevice, and a GPS device.
 14. The dumbbell of claim 1, wherein saidembedded communication device controls at least one of volume, channelselection, and power of a remote electronic device.
 15. The dumbbell ofclaim 1, wherein said dumbbell is waterproof.
 16. The dumbbell of claim1, wherein the exterior of said dumbbell is comprised of at least one ofa rubber and plastic surface.
 17. The dumbbell of claim 1, wherein saiddumbbell further includes an internal compartment to fit the shape of anadditional electronic device.
 18. (canceled)
 19. The dumbbell of claim1, wherein said dumbbell further comprises a connector for connecting anadditional electronic device and an internal battery for powering saidadditional electronic device.
 20. (canceled)
 21. The dumbbell of claim1, wherein said device includes a battery usable to recharge arechargeable device.
 22. The dumbbell of claim 1, wherein said dumbbellfurther comprises an additional storage compartment suitable for aremote control.
 23. The dumbbell of claim 1, wherein said dumbbellfurther comprises an additional storage compartment suitable for addingweight.
 24. The dumbbell of claim 1, wherein each said embeddedcontroller is a recessed button.